Over-Zellous Pitt cruises Irish can't handle star

February 04, 2009|CURT RALLO Tribune Staff Writer

PITTSBURGH -- On a day when Pittsburgh threw a parade for its Super Bowl champions, the city may want to consider a parade for another Steel City athlete. Pittsburgh's Panthers used an "over-Zellous" effort Tuesday night to defeat Notre Dame, 82-70, in Big East college women's basketball. All-American candidate Shavonte Zellous sliced through the Irish defense to score 29 points, an effort that made the senior guard just the fifth athlete in Pitt basketball history (men and women) to surpass the 2,000-point milestone. Notre Dame, ranked No. 13 in the coaches poll and No. 19 in the Associated Press, is 16-5 overall and 5-4 in the Big East. Pitt represented the first in a brutal stretch for the Irish, who play three more ranked teams in their next four games. The Irish return home for the Pink Zone game against DePaul Sunday (2 p.m. EST tip-off). Pitt, ranked No. 24 in the coaches poll and No. 22 in the Associated Press, is 17-4 and 7-2. "This was a big game and they came out and played well," McGraw said of Pittsburgh. "They played hard. They did everything they needed to do. Zellous was unstoppable. We didn't have anybody, absolutely anybody, that could guard her. She had a fantastic game." Becca Bruszewski and Erica Solomon worked inside to lead the Irish with 14 points each. Solomon and Bruszewski muscled inside against the physical and taller Panthers for eight and six rebounds respectively. Melissa Lechlitner scored nine points and contributed four assists to the Irish attack. Lindsay Schrader scored eight points and grabbed seven rebounds. "I thought Erica Solomon and Becca Bruszewski came out to play," McGraw continued. "I thought they played hard and did some good things, but other than that, it was a very disappointing effort." Pitt jumped out to a 15-4 lead and owned a 40-31 halftime edge. Notre Dame fought back to close to 49-48 on a power move inside by Erica Williamson with 14:42 left in the game. The Irish pushed the ball upcourt following a Pitt turnover and Natalie Novosel drove in for a lay-up, but a charge was called on Novosel and the basket was waved off. Pitt answered in force. After Xenia Stewart took the charge to keep the Panthers in the lead, Pitt went on an 8-2 run fueled by three consecutive baskets in which the Panthers were fouled, including two by Zellous. The Irish sliced a 57-50 Pitt lead to three at 57-54, but the Panther transition game turned Irish misfires into Pitt points to put the game out of reach. "That really took the wind out of our sails," McGraw said of the way the game turned after Novosel's charge. "We just made such bad fouls. We didn't get in front of the ball. They attacked the basket and we fouled them." Pitt coach Agnus Berenato agreed that the Panthers' response after the charge call against Novosel was critical. "One of the keys was having help-side defense and take the charge, be willing to sacrifice your body and take the charge," Berenato said of Stewart's play. "When you take a charge, it just energizes the entire team. That energy is what put us ahead, and it took us over the top." Zellous wasn't the only force for the Panthers. Stewart and Taneisha Harrison scored 17 points each. Shayla Scott bruised the Irish for 18 rebounds, and Pepper Wilson snared 12 caroms. But the night belonged to Zellous, who now has 2,008 points in her career. Zellous is third on the all-time Pitt women's basketball scoring list. Lorri Johnson (1987-1991) is the No. 1 scorer in Pitt history with 2,312 points. Sarah Behn of Boston College (1989-93) owns the top spot in Big East scoring with 2,523 points. Zellous is 13th on the Big East list, behind Notre Dame scoring leader Ruth Riley, who scored 2,072 points in her career (1997-2001). "It's amazing," Berenato said of Zellous' accomplishment. "She's really worked hard for it." Zellous wasn't fazed by the milestone. "It's just another milestone," Zellous said. "It's great ... but I have to thank my teammates. They allowed me and helped me reach that milestone." NOTRE DAME (16-5): Becca Bruszewski 7-13 0-0 14, Erica Williamson 2-4 2-2 6, Ashley Barlow 3-9 0-0 6, Melissa Lechlitner 3-11 2-4 9, Lindsay Schrader 3-15 2-3 8, Erica Solomon 6-11 2-4 14, Kellie Watson 2-8 0-0 5, Natalie Novosel 3-7 2-2 8. Totals 29-78 10-15 70. PITTSBURGH (17-4): Sophronia Sallard 1-3 0-0 2, Shayla Scott 5-13 0-0 11, Shawnice Wilson 2-7 0-1 4, Shavonte Zellous 10-18 5-7 29, Xenia Stewart 5-10 5-6 17, Taneisha Harrison 6-13 5-5 17, Chelsea Cole 0-0 0-0 0, Sarah Ogoke 0-0 0-0 0, Kate Popovec 1-2 0-0 2. Totals 30-66 15-19 82. Halftime -- Pittsburgh 40-31. 3-Point Goals -- Notre Dame 2-10 (Lechlitner 1-3, Watson 1-5, Bruszewski 0-1, Barlow 0-1), Pittsburgh 7-12 (Zellous 4-5, Stewart 2-3, Scott 1-3, Harrison 0-1). Fouled Out -- None. Rebounds -- Notre Dame 42 (Solomon 8), Pittsburgh 48 (Scott 18). Assists -- Notre Dame 19 (Barlow, Lechlitner 4), Pittsburgh 19 (Stewart 7). Total Fouls -- Notre Dame 18, Pittsburgh 14. A -- 3,813 .

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